FOR BREAKING NEWS VISIT www.qns.com JUNE 30, 2016 • THE QUEENS COURIER 11 Plans to expand a Flushing day care center are considered illegal and dangerous BY BRIANNA ELLIS bellis@qns.com/@briinformed The expansion of a Flushing home where a day care center operates is hazardous and must be stopped, local advocates protested on June 24. State Senator Tony Avella and urban planner Paul Graziano called upon the Department of Buildings (DOB) to issue a stop-work order to a private home that operates the Happy Dragon day care center. The facility, located on the corner of Bayside Avenue and 146th Street, is reportedly planning to expand its day care business into a cellar and the second fl oor. In a letter to the DOB on June 13, Avella deemed the expansion dangerous, citing that it may raise health and fi re safety concerns. “It’s deeply disconcerting that fi re safety concerns were not taken into consideration when the day care’s plans to develop and expand into the cellar were approved,” Avella said in a press release. “It is completely inappropriate and highly dangerous, should a fi re occur. The displayed development plan is rife with issues, including the use of the second fl oor for both residential and commercial uses.” Furthermore, he said, single-family dwellings must be separated by fl oor if the house is being used for both commercial and residential reasons; he cited as proof provisions in the existing zoning for the site. Graziano also expressed his concerns about the expansion: “The destruction of this fi ne house in order to create additional space which may be illegal and dangerous for children solely for the fi nancial profi t of this day care company is completely unacceptable and, if true, they should immediately lose their license in addition to any State Senator Tony Avella has contacted the NYC Department of Buildings to issue a stop-work order to a Flushing house that is illegally expanding its day care center. fi nes incurred.” Dula Man, a registered operator of day care centers in other parts of Queens, purchased the property in 2001 and it has functioned as a pre-K Google Maps and day care center since 2003. The Courier contacted the Happy Dragon day care center about the expansion and has yet to receive a response. Great rates like ours are always in season. 1.40% 24-Month CD APY1 $5,000 minimum deposit To qualify you must open a Flushing Bank Complete Checking Plus account. Get the complete access and control you desire with a competitive interest rate and banking on-the-go with our Flushing Bank Mobile2 app. For more information and to find out about our other great offers, visit your local Flushing Bank branch, call 800.581.2889 or visit www.FlushingBank.com. 1 New money only. APY effective May 10, 2016. Annual percentage yield assumes principal and interest remain on deposit for a full year at current rate. Minimum deposit balance of $5,000 is required. Funds cannot be transferred from an existing Flushing Bank account. Premature withdrawals may be subject to bank and IRS penalties. Rates and offer are subject to change without notice. A new Complete Checking Plus account with a $5,000 minimum initial deposit is required to receive the CD with the advertised rate. Certain fees and restrictions may apply. For new IRA and rollover accounts, the minimum deposit balance is $5,000. A new checking account is not required for IRA accounts. Speak with a Flushing Bank representative for more details. 2 Flushing Bank Mobile Banking is available to all Flushing Bank online banking users. Flushing Bank is a registered trademark
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